7 reasons to visit Visa Wellington on a Plate

Described as a ‘region-wide culinary takeover’, Visa Wellington on a Plate (VWOAP) sees more than 100 events, special set menus and custom burgers round out 17 days of foodie heaven.

In its ninth year, VWOAP has nailed all dining avenues. You can tuck into street-style grub, luxuriate over a degustation or get hands on with classes – try making the perfect scone or learn how to find a truffle with your dog.

In no particular order, here are seven reasons to visit Visa Wellington on a Plate this year.

Ready, set, eat.

1 The world’s best chefs in your own backyard

A slew of superstar chefs are touching down in Welly as part of VWOAP’s new Chef Collaborations Series. If you’ve ever wanted to dine at Ben Shewry’s world-best Melbourne restaurant Attica or feast on Jenny Gao’s modern Sichuan cuisine, now’s your chance.

Kiwi heavy hitters William Cook and Carlo Buenaventura (The Cult Project), Kyle Street and Jordan Macdonald (Culprit), Guilio Sturla (Roots) and Martin Bosley add local talent to the line-up, bringing some serious culinary chutzpah to the capital.

2 Burgers, burgers, burgers

It wouldn’t be VWOAP without Burger Wellington. With 123 specially curated burgers popping up on menus across the city, careful planning is essential if you want to make a dint in the all the artery-clogging offerings. In between mouthfuls, you can flex your voting muscles ahead of September and help decide which one will be elected Wellington’s best burger.

3 Unleash your inner hophead at Beervana

It’s no secret Wellingtonians know how to produce (and appreciate) a damn good beer. Whether you consider yourself a certified member of the Barley Literati or let’s face it, just enjoy having a drink, Beervana is here to quench your thirst. Special one-off beers, first-time international imports and over-the-top brewing displays are just some of the reasons to make a date with Beervana.

4 Get a taste of Kiwiana

This year VWOAP participants have been challenged to celebrate food as an essential part of Kiwi culture. In true number 8 wire fashion, this theme has been plated up in a range of ingenious interpretations.

Go wild with a bush kai feast, enjoy a high-end hāngī or sample Artisan Dining House’s five-course dinner of Aotearoa’s greatest hits, but not like your nana made. If you prefer to sample your taste of New Zealand in liquid form, there are plenty of events celebrating the region’s exceptional wine and beer.

5 Dine like vegetarian/vegan royalty

Long gone are the days where a depressing tomato sammy was the only option for herbivores. VWOAP is stacked with enticing offerings for vegetarians and vegans. What Fat Vegans of Wellington Eat is just what it sounds like – a chance to indulge in all your butter-and-cream fantasies with vegan cake, milkshakes and fried ‘chicken’.

Learn how to make vegan dumplings, make a stop in Lyall Bay for The Botanist’s special festival menu and visit Olive restaurant for The Progressive Herbivore event where you can sample vegan mozzarella that will have you convinced you’ve been conned into eating the real thing.

6 Eat everything

Going in completely the opposite direction to the above, there are several events championing the idea of no-wastage cooking where everything (yes, we mean everything) is eaten. Get acquainted with offal at the Masters of Meat butchery demonstration or eat the whole hog at The Story of Jack and the Pig.

If you’re really game, head over to the Portlander for the third annual ‘Big Spicy Ball Challenge’. No explanation necessary.

7 Make it more than just a meal

Take some time to nourish the soul with these community-focused events. Food rescue charity Kaibosh has joined forces with Logan Brown’s Shaun Clouston to transform commonly ignored and un-coveted ingredients into an inspiring meal at the All Taste, No Waste event. The best part is that for every ticket sold, money will be donated towards putting on a special dinner for those who wouldn’t normally have the chance to experience a fine dining ‘do.

If you’ve missed out on the chance to attend the hugely popular Rimutaka Prison Gate to Plate dinners, there’s also the pop up event where you can sample takeaway-style food that’s been designed and prepared by prisoners from Rimutaka Prison. It’s an eye-opening chance to see what is possible when support and opportunities are given to men in prison who want to make a positive change.